foot

ft

The terminal part of the leg below the ankle. The bones of the foot include the tarsals, metatarsals, and phalanges. See: illustration; leg for illus.; skeleton

ATHLETE'S FOOT

athlete's foot

A scaling, cracked, or macerated rash, typically found between the toes and usually caused by a fungal skin infection (such as tinea) although bacteria may also be involved. The rash is usually mildly itchy. Synonym: dermatophytosis; tinea pedisillustration;

Treatment

The feet, esp. the webbing between the toes, should be carefully dried after bathing. Well-ventilated shoes and absorbent socks should be worn. Topically applied antifungal drugs, such as terbinafine, effectively treat the condition except when maceration is prominent and bacterial infection is also present. In these instances, oral antibiotics are needed.

illustration

cleft foot

A condition in which a cleft extends between the digits to the metatarsal region, usually due to a missing digit and metatarsal.

Synonym: split foot

immersion foot

A condition of the feet, resulting from prolonged immersion in cold water, in which pain and inflammation are followed by swelling, discoloration, and numbness.

Seattle foot

split foot

tabetic foot

Twisted foot in locomotor ataxia.

trench foot

Degeneration of the skin of the feet due to prolonged exposure to moisture. The condition, which resembles frostbite, may be prevented by ensuring that clean, dry socks are worn at all times. The feet do not have to be exposed to cold to develop this condition.

SACH foot

Solid ankle cushion heel foot; a prosthetic foot that has no definite ankle joint but is designed to absorb shock and allow movement of the shank over the foot during ambulation.

tropical immersion foot

foot

the part of the leg of vertebrates that contacts the ground in the standing position.

the locomotive organ in invertebrates, for example, the foot of a mollusc, or the tube feet of an echinoderm.

Bones of the right foot, from above.

Figure 1: The autonomic nervous system. Actions on the heart and on smooth muscle. Sympathetic actions on the left and parasympathetic actions on the right. Solid arrows: stimulation (contraction or secretion); broken arrows: inhibition.

foot

as well as supporting the weight of the body, the foot works as a lever to move the body forwards. The many joints between the bones of the foot allow it to change shape to accommodate different and uneven surfaces. The skeleton of the foot consists of: the seven tarsal bones, including the heel bone (calcaneum) and the talus which articulates with the leg bones at the ankle joint; beyond these, the five metatarsals and, in the toes, the phalanges. There are layers of small muscles in the sole, and tendons from the lower leg traverse the ankle to reach their various insertions in the sole and on the dorsum (upper part) of the foot. Figure 1.

foot

immersion foot; trench foot foot condition resulting from prolonged exposure to damp and cold, affecting rough-sleepers and those with inadequate winter footwear; initially the foot is cold and anaesthetic, but on warming becomes hyperaemic and painful, with paraesthesiae and hyperhidrosis

foot

, pl. feet (fut, fēt)

1. [TA] The distal part of the leg.

2. A unit of length, containing 12 inches, equal to 30.48 cm.

[A.S. fōt]

foot

the distal part of the primate leg, upon which the individual stands and walks. Used loosely also instead of hoof, paw.

foot abscess

in all species has characteristics of local inflammation. Special disease in sheep—abscess under horn either at toe or heel. Caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. Severe lameness with pus discharging at coronet. Slow outbreaks occur in wet years. Footrot in pigs is really a foot abscess. See also porcine footrot. Called also toe abscess, heel abscess.

at foot

used to describe a female of breeding age accompanied by its unweaned offspring, e.g. ewe with a lamb at foot.

foot bath

used in the control of footrot in sheep and cattle. Made of concrete or metal, preferably not metal because of the corrosive nature of copper sulfate solution. Deep enough to accommodate a 4 inch depth of solution, wide enough so that animals can stand on all four hooves in comfort, with a side fence to ensure that they do actually stand in the bath, and long enough to accommodate five to 10 animals, which need to stand in the solution for about 10 minutes. Solutions used include copper sulfate or formalin. In dairy cattle the foot bath may be at the entrance to the milking parlor so that cows walk through it twice each day.

large cytoplasmic processes extending from the internal lining epithelium of the glomerular capsule of the kidney and terminate on the basement membrane.

foot scald

dermatitis of the skin of the sheep's interdigital cleft. There is minor lifting of horn at the horn-skin junction but there is no underrunning and no odor. Avirulent strains of Dichelobacter nodosus are the cause; the introduction of virulent D. nodosus will result in severe footrot. Called also benign footrot.

slew foot

in dog conformation, a turned out foot.

slipper foot

in dogs, a long, oval foot. Called also boat foot. See also laminitis.

foot stomping

gerbils stomp their rear feet to signal territorialism; sheep do it with their front hooves as a threatening gesture, especially to flocking dogs.

Patient discussion about foot

Q. I think my son has flat foot, how to tell for sure? I didn't notice it before, he is 3 years old now and all shoes hurt him. Does it mean he has flat foot? what else can it be?

A. Pes planus (flat foot) is not a rare condition in toddlers, and may resolves spontaneously as the child grows. It is diagnosed clinically, i.e. by a doctor such as pediatrician or pediatric orthopedic surgeon, and radiographs are not universally indicated

Q. Can flat feet be repaired by surgery? I have flat feet and I’m looking for all sorts of treatments for it- I heard there is a surgery for it- is it helpful?

A. As far as I know- they don’t treat flat feet that are asymptomatic. So first of all check if it bothers you. secondly there are 2 kinds of flat feet- rigid and flexible. There are different and treated differently. Not always a surgery (which is very painful and costly) is needed– I went to a Rolf method therapist by the advice of my orthopedic and it’s much better now. Ask an orthopedic.

Q. Is it possible to have fibromyalgia in your feet and hands? Can you explain? I am very eager to know whether anybody is here with the symptoms of mine. My thumb hurts so much that it's difficult for me to write, and both my feet hurt when I put any weight on them. My hands and feet used to be the only parts of my body that didn't hurt. Is it possible to have fibromyalgia in your feet and hands? Can you explain?

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.